Reviewed by Becca
TITLE: Impacted!
SERIES: Bay Area Professionals #1
AUTHOR: Mickie B. Ashling
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 202 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 12, 2019
BLURB:
On his way home from vacation, Scott Gregory, a closeted sub, hooks up with the gorgeous Red, a flamboyant Dom, for a thrilling one-off at a BDSM bar. They part ways after a satisfying scene… but meet again when Robin Kennedy—Red—arrives at his new job as a dental hygienist and discovers one of his two bosses is Scott.
Robin and Scott embark on a journey of exploration into their kinkier sides and discover they’re more than compatible—they’re a perfect match. But keeping employer/employee and Dom/sub separate at the office presents difficulties, and to make matters even more complicated, the owner of the dental practice is an acknowledged homophobe.
They fall in love, but Robin chafes at all the secrecy, refusing to live in the shadows. Scott isn’t as brave; he’s desperate to protect his job and his future. Will they be able to find some middle ground… or will their entire relationship fall apart because of fear?
Second Edition
REVIEW:
Triggers: discussion of rape, bigotry, hatred, homophobia. Scenes of BDSM, with bondage and such. If any of it bothers you, please be careful.
This was a pretty good book for me til the end. I liked the dynamic between the two MCs, the push and pull, the conflict, and rewards. But the surprise Scott gets at the end, just ruined all for me. I know it’s meant to be a twist and as far as twists go, it’s a doozy, but yeah, not for me.
Scott is yearning for someone to fulfill him in the way he needs before he goes home. He stops in a bar, looking for something for the night and was about to go home disappointed, until the bartender speaks up to him. ‘Red’ pushes his buttons, which for Scott is odd, because Red isn’t his normal type. But they have an amazing time in Scott’s car, and end up going separate ways. Scott is disappointed because Red seemed to be the one to do it for him. Robin (Red) can’t forget about Scott either. But knows he needs to move on. One night does not a relationship make. But he gets the surprise of his life when he shows up for his new job, and Scott is one of his bosses. Now they have to figure out how to have a relationship, while being boss/employee, Dom/sub, and staying under the radar of the homophobic boss. And it’s not easy. Several times, things almost break them up, but they work it out until one big thing divides them for sure. And this time, there may be no coming back.
For Robin, he’s happy being out and being a Dom. But understanding Scott’s need for secrecy, he keeps his mouth shut. For now. But one person can only take so much. And as much as the boss has been pushing for other things and meddling in their lives, as well as the homophobic and hateful comments, it’s too much. It’s toxic. Constant toxicity. Scott has had a rough time in his life, and he’s hanging by a thread. He just wants to get through the next few months until he can take over the practice. But at what cost? I don’t know how anyone could do it. I know in this world sometimes we have to just suck things up and go with it but sometimes you have to learn when to let it go and move on. You have to learn to let the past go. It’s not an easy thing. But it’s deciding what in life is more important.
With all the things these guys go through, it’s a storm that beats hard at them. They make it through, but it enough to break someone. I love that they fight to hold on to what they have, even when they want to give up. It’s important. And their relationship is what made this book for me.
RATING: 
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